Limited slip planet gear for a motor vehicle differential assembly

Abstract

A limited slip planet gear for a motor vehicle differential assembly which uses a segmented planet gear having a plurality of fixed plates positioned between a corresponding plurality of planet gear segments. The plurality of fixed plates are preferably keyed to a planet gear pin and the plurality of fixed plates and the corresponding plurality of planet gear segments are compressed using a resilient compression member, for example, one or more belleville type springs or one or more leaf springs to provide limited slip capability to the motor vehicle differential assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A limited slip planet gear for a motor vehicle planetary differential assembly, said limited slip planet gear comprising: a planet gear pin;   a plurality of fixed plates rotationally fixed to said planet gear pin so said plurality of fixed plates rotate with said planet gear pin;   a plurality of planet gear segments corresponding to and positioned between said plurality of fixed plates, said plurality of planet gear segments including gear teeth on an outside diameter thereof; and   a resilient compression member which compresses said plurality of fixed plates and said corresponding plurality of planet gear segments to cause said plurality of fixed plates and said planet gear pin, and said corresponding plurality of planet gear segments to rotate together when the level of relative torque is less than a selected value and to cause said plurality of fixed plates and said planet gear pin, and said corresponding plurality of planet gear segments to rotate relative to each other when the level of relative torque is greater than the selected value.   
     
     
       2. The limited slip planet gear in accordance with claim 1, wherein said planet gear pin is substantially cylindrical in configuration and includes a longitudinally extending slot or groove and each of said plurality of fixed plates includes an inwardly extending projection corresponding to said longitudinally extending slot or groove such that said longitudinally extending slot or groove of said planet gear pin and said inwardly extending projection of each of said plurality of fixed plates causes said plurality of fixed plates to be fixed to said planet gear pin and to rotate with said planet gear pin. 
     
     
       3. The limited slip planet gear in accordance with claim 2, wherein said longitudinally extending slot or groove extends the entire length of said planet gear pin. 
     
     
       4. The limited slip planet gear in accordance with claim 3, wherein said resilient compression member includes one or more belleville type springs. 
     
     
       5. The limited slip planet gear in accordance with claim 3, wherein said resilient compression member includes one or more springs. 
     
     
       6. The limited slip planet gear in accordance with claim 3, wherein said gear teeth on said outside diameter of each of said plurality of planet gear segments are adapted to engage with corresponding gear teeth on at least one of a first output and a second output in the motor vehicle differential assembly. 
     
     
       7. The limited slip planet gear in accordance with claim 1, wherein said resilient compression member includes one or more belleville type springs. 
     
     
       8. The limited slip planet gear in accordance with claim 1, wherein said resilient compression member includes one or more springs. 
     
     
       9. The limited slip planet gear in accordance with claim 1, wherein said gear teeth on said outside diameter of each of said plurality of planet gear segments are adapted to engage with corresponding gear teeth on at least one of a first output and a second output in the motor vehicle differential assembly. 
     
     
       10. The limited slip planet gear in accordance with claim 2, wherein said gear teeth on said outside diameter of each of said plurality of planet gear segments are adapted to engage with corresponding gear teeth on at least one of a first output and a second output in the motor vehicle differential assembly. 
     
     
       11. A motor vehicle planetary differential assembly having a limited slip planet gear, said motor vehicle planetary differential assembly comprising: an input;   a planet gear pin rotationally coupled in relation to at least one of a first output and a second output;   a plurality of fixed plates rotationally fixed to said planet gear pin so said plurality of fixed plates rotate with said planet gear pin;   a plurality of planet gear segments corresponding to and positioned between said plurality of fixed plates, said plurality of planet gear segments including gear teeth on an outside diameter thereof and said plurality of planet gear segments being rotationally coupled to at least one of said first output and said second output; and   a resilient compression member which compresses said plurality of fixed plates and said corresponding plurality of planet gear segments to cause said plurality of fixed plates and said planet gear pin, and said corresponding plurality of planet gear segments to rotate together when the level of relative torque is less than a selected value and to cause said plurality of fixed plates and said planet gear pin, and said corresponding plurality of planet gear segments to rotate relative to each other when the level of relative torque is greater than the selected value.   
     
     
       12. The motor vehicle planetary differential assembly in accordance with claim 11, wherein said planet gear pin is substantially cylindrical in configuration and includes a longitudinally extending slot or groove and each of said plurality of fixed plates includes an inwardly extending projection corresponding to said longitudinally extending slot or groove such that said longitudinally extending slot or groove of said planet gear pin and said inwardly extending projection of each of said plurality of fixed plates causes said plurality of fixed plates to be fixed to said planet gear pin and to rotate with said planet gear pin. 
     
     
       13. The motor vehicle planetary differential assembly in accordance with claim 12, wherein said longitudinally extending slot or groove extends the entire length of said planet gear pin. 
     
     
       14. The motor vehicle planetary differential assembly in accordance with claim 13, wherein said resilient compression member includes one or more belleville type springs. 
     
     
       15. The motor vehicle planetary differential assembly in accordance with claim 13, wherein said resilient compression member includes one or more springs. 
     
     
       16. The motor vehicle planetary differential assembly in accordance with claim 13, wherein said gear teeth on said outside diameter of each of said plurality of planet gear segments are adapted to engage with corresponding gear teeth on at least one of said first output and said second output in the motor vehicle differential assembly. 
     
     
       17. The motor vehicle planetary differential assembly in accordance with claim 11, wherein said resilient compression member includes one or more belleville type springs. 
     
     
       18. The motor vehicle planetary differential assembly in accordance with claim 11, wherein said resilient compression member includes one or more springs. 
     
     
       19. The motor vehicle planetary differential assembly in accordance with claim 11, wherein said gear teeth on said outside diameter of each of said plurality of planet gear segments are adapted to engage with corresponding gear teeth on at least one of said first output and said second output in the motor vehicle differential assembly. 
     
     
       20. The motor vehicle planetary differential assembly in accordance with claim 12, wherein said gear teeth on said outside diameter of each of said plurality of planet gear segments are adapted to engage with corresponding gear teeth on at least one of said first output and said second output in the motor vehicle differential assembly.